Coach Agnus Berenato celebrating with Shavonte Zellous following the Indiana Fever's WNBA title win on Sunday night.
The Pitt family can claim another world champion this
morning. Former Pitt women's basketball star Shavonte Zellous helped lead the
Indiana Fever to the WNBA title last night over the heavily favored Minnesota
Lynx in the best-of-five series. The Fever needed just four games to earn their
first-ever championship.
Shavonte was an integral part of that title run, which
included a last-second shot to extend the series against Connecticut, and a
30-point performance in game three of the finals against Minnesota. If you had
the chance to see her play at Pitt, none of her success surprises you.
One reason we felt so passionately about starting Pitt Live
Wire was to bring you stories that you couldn't get anywhere else. The greatest
reason, however, was to bring these current and former student-athletes to life
so that you are able to get a glimpse into the people we are blessed to work
with every day.
As if they were my own kids, I realize you aren't supposed
to pick favorites... but to be honest, Shavonte has always been one of mine. She
puts as much effort into her relationships off the court as she does to her
time on the court, and that is a rare combination. Her smile is inescapable and
her energy is infectious.
It's cliché, but at Pitt Shavonte was always the first one
on the court and the last to leave and I'm sure that hasn't changed. But she
didn't just care about her own point totals. Many times she put the team on her
back and willed the Panthers to a win. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better
leader.
All of these things are probably pretty evident to anyone
paying attention. What isn't so clear is that she made herself who she is
today, although she would never admit to that. She would mention everyone from
her mom, to her high school coach, to Pitt coach Agnus Berenato, to her support
staffs. And, she would be right -- they were instrumental in her success.
However, there are a lot of people that have those same resources and
opportunities that don't take advantage of them.
Shavonte's struggle
to get a scholarship offer out of high school is documented. Her
record-breaking accomplishments
with the Panthers are also well documented. But it's the work that led to
the success that makes her special.
Upon Shavonte being named the 2008
Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year, Berenato stated to Paul Zeise of the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
"I
can honestly say this, she is the No. 1 success story in all my years of
coaching. I've had a lot of players over the years do a lot of good things, but
she is without doubt the best success story in my life and has to be one of the
top in the country. Where she came from to what she has made herself is
something special."
Sincerest
congratulations, Shavonte. You embody everything Pitt is and aspires to be and
we are infinitely better for having you as one of us.
Hail
To Pitt!
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